Tooth powder dispenser



' Aug. 26, 1958 B. WANDEL 2,849,165

TOOTH POWDER DISPENSER 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1956 BRONISLAW WANDEL I IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 2,849,155 i atented Aug. 26, 1958 lice TOOTH POWDER DISPENSER Bronislaw Wandel, Boston, Mass.

Application September 25, 1956, Serial No. 611,976

3 Claims. (Cl. 222--505) between the powder container and the lower chamber wherein the toothbrush is inserted. Commonly such sliding members are mounted on the underside of the partition by either lugs or a separate apertured carriagetype slide is provided. Such prior art devices result in excess powder accumulation in the spacing between the slide and partition member, which may hinder operation of the dispenser. Furthermore, with such devices ease of cleaning or replacement of parts is very diflicult.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved tooth powder dispenser having a a control mechanism which may be easily disassembled and reassembled.

It is a further object to provide an improved tooth powder dispenser having a control mechanism including a sliding member which is wholly positioned within the powder containing means to thereby prevent any powder accumulation.

A still further object is to provide a tooth powder dispenser having simplified and efiicient control mechanism, said dispenser being adapted to receive standard commercial containers or a separate powder retaining member.

Other objects, features and advantages will be evident after consideration of the following detailed description and reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the complete embodiment with the supporting base member and control mechanism shown in detail;

Fig. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the sliding member of the control mechanism;

Fig. 2B is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the illustrative embodiment in its operative position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of an alternative powder receptacle means mounted on the embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along the line 66 in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a complete embodiment with the improved dispenser shown generally at 1, comprising a base member of a frustoconical configuration having an upper section 2 and lower section 3. Upper section 2 is provided with a hub or sleeve portion 4 which is removably and rotatably fitted into lower section 3 to permit accessibility to or removal of the control mechanism for assembly, cleaning or replacement. A slot 5 and pin 6 arrangement provides suitable retention means for the separable sections While in use. Section 3 has a passageway '7 for the introduction of the toothbrush. Trough-shaped member 8 is secured to the bottom wall of section 3 in register with passageway 7 for support of the brush.

My improved dispenser has been shown with a standard commercial powder container 9 having a threaded neck 10 engaging an aperture in the upper wall of section 2 to supply the chamber 11 therein with a supply of powder.

Referring now to Fig. 2 wherein the dispenser control mechanism is shown in detail as at 14, a circular partition member 12 is secured within sleeve 4 as at 13 to provide the bottom wall of chamber 11. The control mechanism 14 is supported by partition member 12 and comprises a substantially U-shaped member having a pair of posts 15 and a solid web portion 16 extending over approximately half of the member. Posts 15 extend through suitable apertures in partition member 12 and frictionally engage rubber grommets 17. A pair of stop members 18 extend laterally from the lower half of posts '15 adjacent the web portion 16 and limit the movement of the overall mechanism by bearing against partition member 12.

As shown in greater detail in Fig. 2A, the slide member 19 of the invention is disposed on the upper wall of the partition 12 and is wholly contained within chamber 11. This slide 19 comprises a vertical standard 20 having a gradual downward taper and a horizontal section terminating in bevelled edges 21 for the purpose of directing powder downward. Passages 22, which may be either rectangular or circular as desired, provide means for the passage of the powder when in alignment with openings 23 in partition 12.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the simplified means for assembly of the components of the embodiment to retain slide member 19 in engagement with partition member 12 and movement of the control mechanism upon introduction of the toothbrush to receive a quantity of powder on the bristles. it will be noted that my improved mechanism eliminates the use of lugs to retain the slide member thereby avoiding any mechanical friction or interference due to powder accumulation. Eye brackets 24 secured to the bottom wall of partition member 12 anchor a compressible spring 25 which extends around the web portion re and is retained by notches 34 formed near the lower ends of posts 15. Spring 25 maintains the mechanism 14 in a non-operative position with posts 15 disposed forwardly and stops 18 contacting partition member 12. Standard 20 is provided at its upper end with slots 26 and 39 while each post upper end is provided with a slot 27.

To activate the slide member positively upon motion of control mechanism 14, I next provide a substantially U- shaped member 28 having elongated leg portions disposed perpendicularly at the ends thereof with the closed end disposed Within slot 26 and the leg portions within slots 27. Preferably member 28 is formed of a relatively rigid rod or wire and retained in the desired position by means of a spring 29. This spring extends through slot 30 with its ends anchored to eye brackets which are in turn secured to the upper wall of partition member 12.

With the control mechanism of my invention the sliding member is activated to release a quantity of tooth powder simply and efiiciently by means of the pressure of the toothbrush 31 against web portion 16 which re sults in the view shown in Fig. 2B. It will be noted that posts 15 extend rearwardly thereby moving slide member 19 to a position wherein passages 22 and openings 25 are in alignment to release the contents within chamber 11. Release of pressure results in the mechanism returning to its original position shown in Fig. 2.

The reciprocating movement of posts 15 serves to agitatethe powder. The bevelled edges 21' of slide member 1 9 direct the-powder downward and prevent any clogging or packing ofthe powder in the vicinity of the outlet apertures The illustrative embodiment-pf my improved dispenser may also be readily adapted toother types of powder containers as shown in Figs. 5- and 6, Where desired a wide mouth container or jar 32 may-be provided with the dispenser l as an integral unit by threading the aperture in the top wall of section 2 with a complementary thread to receive the neck 33 of jar 32.

Removal of the-top section 2 will facilitate access to the complete mechanism for cleaning or replacement of components. It may also be pointed out that since the number of parts are relatively few and are secured simply by two springs 25 and 29 plus the rubber grommets 17, the unit may be easily assembled. 1 Costs of manufacture will also be reduced since the structure disclosed lends itself readily tothe utilization of: pre-fabricated components. from the numerous plastic materials available in the commercial market.

What is claimed:

1. A tooth. powder dispenser comprising an upper and lower section with said upper section defining a cylindrical sleeve portion of reduced diameter adapted to be slidably disposed within said lower section, a transverse partition member positioned. within saidv sleeve portion, said partition member defining a plurality of openings aligned along the diameter of said partition member and an aperture symmetrically spacedoneitherside ofthe said diameter, an actuator member having vertical posts and a solid web portion extending therebetween over a major portion of the overall length of said member, said posts extending through said spaced apertures, a slide member disposed on said partition member, said slide member having a central; vertical standard portion and a horizontal portion containinga plurality of passages in register with said partition openings when said slide is in operative position, means operatively connecting the vertical standard portion and the actuator posts to thereby translate reciprocating movement of said posts into horizontal displacement of said slide member to thereby cause a quantity of powder to be deposited on a toothbrush bearing against said web portion.

2. A tooth powder dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise a rigid wire member and a compressible spring spanning said wire member with the ends thereof anchored to said partition member.

3. A tooth powder dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said actuator member is tensioned by spring means secured to the underside of said partition member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Marshall Apr. 1, 1952 

